By Stefanie Bross

The Lay Centre community held, on Nov. 25, the “Dies Academicus 2023,” an open day in which they welcome visitors and engage in fruitful intellectual dialogue. Four Lay Centre residents presented topics they have been studying and discussed them with those present in the audience. After the sessions, guests joined the community for lunch. The presentations were very diverse and included topics in history, culture, psychology, theology and spirituality.

Elia Gittardi, third-year history and cultural heritage student at the Pontifical Gregorian University, closed the day’s speakers with a talk on “Litterae Indipete.” These letters, sent to the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, totalled over 16,000. Housed at the Arsi Jesu in Rome, they served as unique insights into the selection and desires of Jesuit missionaries.
 
Gittardi’s presentation emphasized the commonalities in these letters — spirited aspirations for the missions, coupled with an administrative tone akin to job applications. They revealed recurrent themes of obedience, indifference and a longing for martyrdom, particularly in Japan during severe Christian persecutions. St. Francis Xavier’s influence loomed large, acting as both patron saint and an inspirational figure guiding aspirants toward missions.
 
Furthermore, these letters had an administrative function, often demonstrating families' consent for their children's perilous missions. They also revealed differences in regional Jesuit divisions regarding their perspectives on missions, especially in the Far East.
 
Gittardi recommended comprehensive works exploring “Litterae Indipete” for a deeper understanding of these letters' historical, spiritual and cultural significance within Jesuit missionary endeavors. His presentation highlighted these letters as invaluable sources to understand the fervent aspirations and administrative intricacies of Jesuit missionary selection throughout history.

Watch his full intervetion on The Lay Centre's YouTube channel.